Speakers of a roundtable 'Repatriation of IDP's: Status and the Way Forward’ termed restoration of law and order and provision of basic facilities for returnees vital for rehabilitation of the people of FATA while advising for a phased withdrawal of armed forces from the region.

IPS research team member Fatima Habib participated in a two-day event - comprising a conference and a workshop - hosted by Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) at University of Lahore (UoL) on October 30-31, 2016.

DG-IPS was invited by Department of Law, Bahria University, Islamabad to attend and address a roundtable discussion on 'National Cyber Security Issues: Cyber Crimes to Cyber Warfare', on October 21, 2016.

The proposed recommendations, including the gradual merger of the federally administered tribal area into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, by FATA Reforms Committee – formed by the prime minister in November 2015 to conduct consultations with the tribesmen and other stakeholders for the purpose – were largely endorsed by the participants of a policy dialogue held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), however it was stressed that they should be implemented with the consensus and due participation of the people of FATA.

Energy experts and lawyers, in a policy dialogue, have urged the parliament to revisit the 18th amendment to remove confusions that have been creating hindrances in oil and gas exploration for the last six years virtually halting the activities of this vital sector of the national economy. Despite passing of six years new exploration licenses were not being issued and a number of foreign companies have either left or were on the exit phase due to the lacunas and wrangling between the federation and provinces for legislative and executive controls.

IPS LEAD – the learning, excellence and development program of IPS – partnered with HHRD – Helping Hand for Relief and Development – in organizing the ‘International Youth Conference 2016’ on August 1-2, 2016.

DG-IPS Khalid Rahman was invited to chair a session in a two-day conference ‘State of Pakistan’s Economy: Issues and Challenges in the 21st Century’ in Karachi, organized by Institute of Business Management (IoBM) on September 27-28, 2016.

While it was the duty of the federal government that all the details related to CPEC should be made transparent and easily accessible besides ensuring that fruits of CPEC are shared equitably by all the parts and regions of the country, all stakeholders should refrain from stances and approaches that make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity controversial and look like unviable.